Al-Marayati wrote the op-ed as a part of the New York Times “Room for Debate” series where he tackled the question, “How should Muslims respond to the threat of extremism within Islam?” Other debaters included:

Too often, judgments about Islam are made by looking to the Middle East, which has become a breeding ground for fanaticism and extremism.

Al-Marayati wrote,

“When change arises, it will be from the West, and in particular the United States, where Muslims are free to worship without coercion by religious authorities or state power.”

Through the creation of safe spaces, American Muslims can discuss responses to anti-Muslim rhetoric, policy reforms, civic engagement, and countering political and religious extremism. This will pave the way for a better understanding of Islam.